Conflict Between Flesh and Spirit in Christian Life
Conflict Between Flesh and Spirit in Christian Life
Paul's letter to the Galatians articulates the central tension: "For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want" [1]. This conflict describes not a battle between body and soul in the Greek philosophical sense, but a struggle between two opposing principles within the believer's experience.
The Nature of "Flesh" in Biblical Usage
The term "flesh" carries multiple meanings across Scripture. In the Old Testament, it denotes a particular part of the body, the whole body itself, all living things collectively, and human mutability and weakness [2]. The expression "heart of flesh" suggests softness and receptivity, while "flesh and bone" indicates kinship [2]. In the New Testament, however, "flesh" takes on an additional dimension: it denotes "the sinful element" [2], what one commentary identifies as "the corruption of nature, which still is in regenerate persons" [4]. This corruption is called "flesh" because it propagates through natural generation, directs itself toward carnal objects, and manifests in the body's members [4].
John Chrysostom clarifies that Paul does not mean "the body, or the essence of the body" when he speaks of flesh, but rather "that life which is fleshly and worldly, and uses self-indulgence and extravagance to the full, so making the entire man flesh" [9]. The contrast operates between spiritual orientation and worldly orientation, not between immaterial and material existence. Those who possess "the wings of the Spirit" make even the body spiritual, while those enslaved to fleshly desires render their entire being carnal [9].
The Mutual Opposition
The conflict Paul describes is one of mutual antagonism. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown note that the Spirit "tendeth against the flesh" while the flesh opposes the Spirit and His good influence, "so that neither the one nor the other can be fully carried out into action" [6]. This explains the believer's experience of moral frustration—the inability to fully accomplish either what the flesh desires or what the Spirit intends. The struggle produces a state where "you do not do what you want" [1], a condition of internal division that persists throughout the Christian life.
Chrysostom frames this tension as the path that "makes duty easy" and generates love, observing that "nothing renders us so susceptible of love, as to be spiritual, and nothing is such an inducement to the Spirit to abide in us, as the strength of love" [5]. Walking by the Spirit becomes both the remedy and the preventative: "Walk by the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" [5].
The Broader Context of Christian Warfare
This internal conflict forms part of a larger warfare. One commentary describes the Christian life as "a warfare with Satan, and his principalities and powers, with the world, the men and lusts of it" [7]. Yet believers do not "war after the flesh" despite walking "in the flesh"—that is, despite existing in bodies marked by imperfection, weakness, and affliction [7]. The distinction between being in the flesh and warring according to the flesh proves crucial.
Paul lists strife itself as "a work of the flesh" and "an evidence of a carnal spirit" [3], indicating that the flesh-Spirit conflict manifests not only in private moral struggle but in communal discord. The apostle provides Christ as an example of avoiding strife [3], suggesting that Spirit-led living produces not only personal holiness but relational peace.
The Body's Sacred Status
The conflict's resolution does not involve escaping embodiment. Paul insists that for Christians, "the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit," and sexual sin violates "this sacred sanctuary and the divine presence" [8]. Believers "do not belong" to themselves, having been "bought with a high price, the blood of Christ," and therefore every part of their lives has been claimed for God's glory [8]. The body itself becomes the site where the Spirit's presence must be honored, not a prison from which the soul seeks release.
Sources
- Galatians “Galatians 5:17 (BSB) — For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Flesh — In the Old Testament denotes (1) a particular part of the body of man and animals (Gen. 2:21; 41:2; Ps. 102:5, marg.); (2) the whole body (Ps. 16:9); (3) all living things having flesh, and particularly humanity as a whole (Gen. 6:12, 13); (4) mutability and weakness (2 Chr. 32:8; comp. Isa. 31:3; Ps. 78:39). As suggesting the idea of softness it is used in the expression "heart of flesh" (Ezek. 11:19). The expression "my flesh and bone" (Judg. 9:2; Isa. 58:7) denotes relationship. In the New Testament, besides these it is also used to denote the sinful eleme”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
- Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 5:16: For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,.... By "flesh" is meant, not the carnal or literal sense of the Scripture, which is Origen's gloss, as militating against the spiritual sense of it; nor the sensual part of man rebelling against his rational powers; but the corruption of nature, which still is in regenerate persons: and is so called because it is propagated by carnal generation; has for its object carnal things; its lusts and works are fleshly; and though it has its seat in the heart, it shows itself in the flesh or members of the body, which are yielded as”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: between the spirit and the flesh.”—Lightfoot.—G.A.] path which makes duty easy, and secures what had been said, a path whereby love is generated, and which is fenced in by love. For nothing, nothing I say, renders us so susceptible of love, as to be spiritual, and nothing is such an inducement to the Spirit to abide in us, as the strength of love. Therefore he says, “Walk by the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh:” having spoken of the cause of the disease, he likewise mentions the remedy which confers health. A”
- Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 5:17: For--the reason why walking by the Spirit will exclude fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, namely, their mutual contrariety. the Spirit--not "lusteth," but "tendeth (or some such word is to be supplied) against the flesh." so that ye cannot do the things that ye would--The Spirit strives against the flesh and its evil influence; the flesh against the Spirit and His good influence, so that neither the one nor the other can be fully carried out into action. "But" (Gal 5:18) where "the Spirit" prevails, the issue of the struggle no longer continues ”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 10:3: For though we walk in the flesh,.... The apostle removes the calumny of walking after the flesh, by owning that they were in the flesh, in the body, in a state of imperfection, attended with many weaknesses and infirmities, and surrounded with a variety of afflictions and sorrows; in this sense they were, and lived and walked in the flesh; but then he denies the charge exhibited against them, we do not war after the flesh: every Christian's life is a warfare with Satan, and his principalities and powers, with the world, the men and lusts of it, and with the c”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:18: 6:18-20 For Christians, the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (see study note on 3:16-17; cp. 2 Cor 6:16). Sexual sin violates this sacred sanctuary and the divine presence. • You do not belong to yourself: Christians can no longer claim their bodies as their own, as they have been bought . . . with a high price, the blood of Christ (cp. 1 Cor 7:23; Rev 5:9), and every part of their lives has been claimed by Christ for God’s glory (see Rom 14:7-9; 2 Cor 5:14-15).”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: please God, and to make our escape from the flesh? and would you have us be homicides, and so lead us to virtue? You see what inconsistencies are gendered by taking the words literally. For by “the flesh” in this passage, he does not mean the body, or the essence of the body, 435 but that life which is fleshly and worldly, and uses self-indulgence and extravagance to the full, so making the entire man flesh. For as they that have the wings of the Spirit, make the body also spiritual, so do they who bound off from this, and are the slaves of the belly”